Liquid dermatological agent dispensing device

• US 10,117,497 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RLM Group Limited
• Original Assignee: RLM Group Limited
• Inventors: Murphy, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David
• Application Number:
  US15/815,041
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/05 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/0068 Jars
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/24 Casings for two or more cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/006 using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/52 Devices for discharging successive articles or portions of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/36 for applying contents to surfaces brushes combined or associated with tubular containers A46B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/42 with pads or like contents-applying means contents-applying means associated to aerosol container nozzles B65D83/285; brushes combined or associated with containers A46B11/00; swabs for applying media to the human body from an integral supply A61F13/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/32 with brushes or rods for applying or stirring contents droppers B65D47/18; eating utensils or spatulas B65D51/246

Abstract

A dispensing device includes a container defining a reservoir containing a liquid and a porous applicator for dispensing the liquid. Another dispensing device includes two containers attached to each other, where the first container defines a reservoir containing a first liquid and a porous applicator for dispensing liquid and the second container contains a second liquid that may be dispensed via application of a force.

Claims

1. A dispensing device comprising:

a first container having a sidewall that defines a reservoir, the first container having an upper opening to the reservoir at a top of the first container;

a first liquid in the reservoir, wherein the first liquid comprises a dermatological agent; and

a porous applicator in the reservoir, wherein the porous applicator comprises an injection-molded polyethylene body having open-celled pores, wherein the open-celled pores extend from a bottom of the porous applicator to a top surface of the porous applicator, wherein the open-celled pores are filled with the first liquid such that the pores deliver the first liquid to the top surface of the porous applicator by capillary action without externally-applied pressure, wherein the porous applicator substantially fills the reservoir and the upper opening at the top of the first container such that the first liquid is prevented from free-flowing out of the reservoir.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first container comprises a hard, rigid plastic.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the upper opening is the only opening of the first container.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein:

the sidewall of the first container comprises an upper lip; and

the dispensing device further comprises a cap that comprises a downward facing sidewall for engaging the upper lip of the first container such that the cap is detachably removable from the first container to reveal the porous applicator.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a second container containing a second liquid, wherein:

the second liquid comprises a second dermatological agent that is different from the first liquid;

the second container has a circular, threaded post at an upper end of the second container;

the first container comprises a circular post that extends upward from a lower, central portion of the first container into the reservoir; and

the circular post of the first container comprises a downward-facing threaded recess for receiving the threaded post of the second container such that first container is detachably removable from the second container by unscrewing the first container.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5, wherein:

the first container comprises a hard, rigid plastic; and

the second container comprises a squeeze tube that comprises a pliable plastic.

7. The dispensing device of claim 6, wherein the circular post of the first container comprises an upper wall that blocks the second liquid from entering the reservoir defined by the first container.

8. The dispensing device of claim 6, wherein:

the threaded post of the second container comprises a tip that extends from the threaded post of the second container into the porous applicator when the first container is attached to the second container; and

the tip comprises an opening for dispensing the second liquid that is in the second container.

9. The dispensing device of claim 8, wherein an end of the tip is below the top surface of the porous applicator when the threaded post of the second container is fully threaded into the circular post of the first container.

10. The dispensing device of claim 8, wherein an end of the tip protrudes to the top surface the porous applicator when the threaded post of the second container is fully threaded into the circular post of the first container.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10, wherein the cap comprises a downward facing pintle that is inserted into the opening of the tip of the second container when:

the cap is attached to the first container; and

the threaded post of the second container is fully threaded into the circular post of the first container.

12. The dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the second liquid comprises a skin color or pigment liquid.

13. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first container defines first and second reservoirs;

the first liquid and the porous applicator are in the first reservoir; and

a cream is in the second reservoir.

14. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dermatological agent comprises a dermatological agent selected from the group comprising a skin moisturizing cream, skin cleanser, oil, and lotion.

15. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dermatological agent comprises a skin pharmaceutical.

16. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dermatological agent comprises an eye makeup remover.

17. A dispensing device comprising:

a first container having a sidewall that defines a reservoir, the first container having an upper opening to the reservoir at a top of the first container;

a first liquid in the reservoir, wherein the first liquid comprises a dermatological agent;

a porous applicator in the reservoir, wherein the porous applicator comprises open-celled pores that extend from a bottom of the porous applicator to a top surface of the porous applicator, wherein the open-celled pores are filled with the first liquid such that the pores deliver the first liquid to the top surface of the porous applicator by capillary action, wherein the porous applicator substantially fills the reservoir and the upper opening at the top of the first container such that the first liquid is prevented from free-flowing out of the reservoir;

a second container containing a second liquid, wherein;

the second liquid comprises a second dermatological agent that is different from the first liquid;

the second container has a circular, threaded post at an upper end of the second container;

the first container comprises a circular post that extends upward from a lower, central portion of the first container into the reservoir; and

the circular post of the first container comprises a downward-facing threaded recess for receiving the threaded post of the second container such that first container is detachably removable from the second container by unscrewing the first container.

18. The dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the porous applicator delivers the first liquid to the top surface of the porous applicator without externally-applied pressure.

19. The dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the porous applicator comprises a porous plastic material.

20. The dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the porous applicator comprises a porous polymer fiber.

21. The dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the porous applicator comprises a porous foam.